At least four soldiers have been killed in fighting along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, raising the death toll to 10 in two days.

Troops exchanged artillery and gunfire in jungle around Ta Krabey temple, which both sides claim.

The area is about 200km (125 miles) west of the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, the scene of deadly clashes in February.

Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from the area.

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says it is not immediately clear what sparked the most recent violence.

Both sides blamed each other for the fighting.

"Fresh fighting started at around 0600 (2300 GMT Friday) with rifles and mortar shelling," said Thai army spokesman Col Prawit Hookaew.

Analysis

By Rachel HarveyBBC News, Bangkok

In what has now become a familiar pattern, each side is again blaming the other for initiating the latest round of fighting.

Cambodia accuses Thailand of invading its territory and using heavy weapons and poison gas. Thailand denies the claims and says it was forced to respond to Cambodian aggression.

After a series of clashes in February, the two sides agreed to allow Indonesian observers to be stationed along the disputed border territory. But Thai army commanders objected, making it impossible to implement the plan.

Ever since, thousands of heavy armed troops have been engaged in an intense stand-off.

"We are negotiating to stop the fighting," he added.

Thai officials said one Thai soldier had been killed and more than four injured. Cambodian officials said three of their troops had died.

They said artillery shelling had also taken place, and described the fighting as more intense than that on Friday.

Cambodia said three of its soldiers were killed on Friday and six wounded while a Thai spokesman told the BBC that three of its soldiers had been killed and 11 injured.

Until Friday, an informal truce had appeared to be holding.

Indonesia, which has been negotiating peace talks between the two neighbours on behalf of the regional group Asean, has called for an immediate ceasefire.